Nitrate intoxication due to ingestion of pigweed red-root
(Amaranthus retroflexus) in cattle

1Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

2Private Veterinarian, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Nitrate toxicosis associated with consumption of pigweed red-root (Amaranthus retroflexus) wasdiagnosed in a small herd of cattle in the suburb of Mashhad, northeastern Iran. The clinical signs wereruminal tympany, incoordination, tachycardia, dyspnea, head pressing, aggressive movements and jugulardistension. Seven animals including 3 young calves and 4 cows died of intoxication; other affected cattlewere treated by intravenous administration of epinephrine and ascorbic acid. No further mortality wasobserved after the treatment. One of the treated cows aborted a 6-month-old fetus more than three days afterintoxication. Two samples of suspected plants were analysed for nitrate. The nitrate content of those plantswas 6.6% and 10.4% in dry matter